An Introduction to me (and a rant for free). It's a real 2 for 1 situation!

Here's me but more of that down below...

I'm starting to lose patience with the more popular social media platforms. I'll still use them, I've no other choice in many ways, but I feel we've reached peak pop-soc media. What felt like their original purpose - to expand social sphere - no longer seems to hold true... or at least not entirely true.

Money seems to be the motivating factor.

• Only sponsored post reach followers.
• Loss of chronology from most major platforms means past events continue to clutter.
• Seemingly irrelevant and irreverent pages & groups now pitching their influence to brands in order to be sold off.

On top of all that every action, you complete when logged in, is tracked, saved and sold to the highest bidder. The selling of this data isn't just to make sure you receive ads 'relevant to your interests' this data has been sold to companies and been used to change the course of elections. Just look into Cambridge Analytica. (There's a whole series worth of blogs to explore on this topic which I will look to discuss in the next few months).

I get it though. I'm not a complete conspiracy theorist or rampant communist. I just don't like being tricked or molly-coddled into it. Just be upfront. People need to make money. I just struggle to deal with incessant corporations who clothe their actions in a veil of kookiness or feigned friendliness. Nothing is free, I know. You sell my data* and I use you to check that my friends are still alive and I've not missed gigs, and that's fine. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. You don't have to sell me a mythology or lifestyle. No to this, you already have me!

I dislike these platforms at a corporate level but I also dislike those who try to play the system. For me, it seems best encapsulated in the #vanlife movement. It's now well on its way to monetising, molesting, and massacring hippie culture. Every beautifully shot photo is Janus-faced. Subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints to luxury goods litter these seemingly perfect couples who, once of the camera flash fades, probably don't speak to each other. A foil to sell expensive drones and lay the groundwork for Volkswagen's upcoming camper relaunch. SELL. THAT. DREAM!

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I guess this is an introduction to me more than anything. A roundabout way of saying "Hello, I'm Spencer and I'll be around for a while." I'm cynical (or realistic depending on your persuasion) and that's my cross to bear. I'm Franco/British and live in Liverpool, UK (where I grew up for the most part). I do a job I dislike in order to do the things I love:

• Travelling - I've been to countless countries across the world but I've still got far more to see.
• Writing - I write aimlessly. Sometimes funnily. Sometimes angrily. Sometimes musically. I'll probably throw a lot of it up here.
• Stand-up - I try to make myself laugh on stage if the audience laughs too then that's a bonus.
• Drink

I'm not always this angry... but I am for a good 80% of the time at least.

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I've already spent a bit of time on Steemit now and I'm really enjoying the idea of it. It's still clearly in its infancy and a little rough around the edges but that's also part of its charm. Which brings me on to the real thing that attracts me to Steemit... The payment system.

It's not because I expect to make my millions here - although that would be nice - but the upfront nature of payment on Steemit is, I feel, ingenious. I am banking on it meaning that people won't feel obliged to find alternative ways of monetising their stuff. No more vacuous double-speak and careful orchestration. People write, produce, create and develop what they believe in and then let this growing community decide its merit - financially and however else you please. It's democratic to its core because the elephant in the room is addressed straight away.

I might be a little naive. I know there are bots which affect this community and could ensure that the cream doesn't rise to the top. As the platform matures who know which way Steemit will. None of the major platforms hinted at their monetisation and the tricks users would use to capitalise on this... so who knows how Steemit will change as it grows. But whilst this place remains new, exciting, and still malleable, I'm listening.

Anyway, apologies for the long post. I'll be around. Follow. up-vote. Resteem. Join the conversation. Do what you have to.

I've already posted a couple of short stories:

• Modern-day Inconvenience - https://steemit.com/writing/@s-montagu/a-modern-day-inconvenience
• On Holiday - https://steemit.com/funny/@s-montagu/on-holiday

I'll keep posting these and whatever else is on my mind.

Cheers,

Spencer